How do you study Marxism?

[Blanquist]

I have always just read books but is there a better way?

Something more systemic. I've heard people recommend D Harvey lectures for studying Capital but I think he is a buffoon.

[The Jay]

Here's the first video in a series of more than thirty that does a pretty good job at explaining Marxist economics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e66_arZYpeI&feature=context&context=C479f471VAvjVQa1PpcFNK-1H2virSVVtlAUEihNrwZyM8PZE4aXE=

[Railyon]

I've heard people recommend D Harvey lectures for studying Capital but I think he is a buffoon.

In what way? In his lectures he doesn't talk about his politics much, if at all. So if that's what concerns you, it can safely be said he can keep his own views out of it, though I have heard people say his intro to the chapters on value are a bit incorrect.

[MarxSchmarx]

You work, or struggle to find it.

[Q]

In my experience debate is a large part in forming your thoughts. This can either happen in a local group that is meeting a few times a month or, if you're alone in your area, by writing to a leftwing publication or keep your own blog and welcome comments to it. Even Revleft itself is a point of outlet.

[Deicide]

Open a book and smash your face into it a few times.

Pssst.. what Q said.

[Valdyr]

Read books, and ideal take notes, make margin notes. Engage what you read; ask questions, look up historical references, etc.

Also, as Q said, if you can it really helps to go to leftist meetings. Right now I'm in a reading group for Left-Wing Communism by Lenin, and it adds a whole new layer of appreciation for me.

[Nox]

I got all my knowledge from Revleft. Seriously.

[ACAB]

In Russia Marxism studies you...




No in all seriousness just get a copy of capitalism and commerce: conceptual foundations of free Enterprise by Ed Younkins, How capitalism saved America by Tom Dilorenzo and The wealth of Nations, read them along with The communist Manifesto, Anarchist ABC, something by Lenin and then use your own brain to decide what you think rather than read one ideological work and then put up walls around your opinion and shoot people in the kneecaps with arrows for knocking them down with knowledge bombs.

Or don't you can read whatever the fuck you wanna read:tt1:

[ed miliband]

I got all my knowledge from Revleft. Seriously.

and it shows


[/safetywink]

[Rooster]

I think Harvey is fine. He at leasts tries to get you to engage with Capital. But to be honest, I think the best way is to read and re-read the works of Marx and particularly Engels, who's often sadly neglected. Once a certain amount of time has passed then something just clicks into place and it becomes all that much more simpler. Debate really helps, and revleft despite it's faults, just provide a place for debating (or flaming, whatever). There's quite a good blog that gives a reasonable explanation on Marxian economics here: http://kapitalism101.wordpress.com/ check out the video series on value.

[Book O'Dead]

and it shows


[/safetywink]

This is funny.

[Book O'Dead]

I have always just read books but is there a better way?

Something more systemic. I've heard people recommend D Harvey lectures for studying Capital but I think he is a buffoon.

To answer the question "How do you study Marxism":

With an open and critical mind.